SATURDAY, July 25 Saint James the Apostle

As the summer heat sets in, the tune "Peter, James, and John in the sail boat" repeats mentally as I look toward our pond. I see them casting nets, bringing in fish, joking with each other, sharing a cold one.

Later they relax on the deck, fish sizzling on the fire, to reminisce about Jesus raising Jairus's daughter, being transfigured, and praying in the garden. Peter brings up the one about the mother of James and John asking Jesus for a special place for her sons. The brothers groan as they recall their mother's request.

The trio enjoy this time with each other after putting together a large food relief package for those suffering hunger throughout the world. "God is good" is how I often hear people describe this type of happy time.

But this closeness with Jesus, and the ways they continued to follow his way even after he was gone, were an irritant to many. So much so that Herod had James killed. Still, James would say "God is good"  because he had pledged to "drink from the cup" that Jesus was to drink.

PRAY for the Diocese of Lichfield – Wolverhampton (Canterbury, England)

Ps 7:1-10; Jeremiah 45:1-5; Matthew 20:20-28

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